The SPAAR offices in Maplewood and Coon Rapids will open at 12:45pm on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The offices will be closed during the morning for a staff training. We apologize for any inconvenience.

This is the week for your 2019 Membership Renewal! The due date is this Friday, November 30.

SPAAR 2019 Membership Renewal Notices were sent out by email in August from billing@spaar.com. If you do not see your renewal notice in your inbox, be sure to check the spam or junk folder so you do not miss any important information.

If payment is not received on or before this Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, a $50 late payment fee will be added to the amount due. Click here to view important 2019 dues billing information.

You have the ability to adjust the optional items from your 2019 SPAAR Membership Renewal Order. For detailed instructions on how to adjust the optional items, please click here.

If you have questions regarding your membership renewal, contact SPAAR at (651) 776-6000.

If you have completed your National Association of REALTORS® COE requirement for the current two-year period (Jan. 1, 2017-Dec. 31, 2018), but have not yet notified SPAAR, be sure to forward your certificate of completion to SPAAR at
coe@spaar.com. The organizations that offer COE do not inform SPAAR when someone completes this requirement. Need to know if you're compliant?
Check here and notify SPAAR when you're done!

Do you have plans for 2019? Consider being part of a committee

SPAAR provides numerous opportunities for members to become involved and one of those ways is to join one of SPAAR's many committees. SPAAR is currently seeking applicants for its committees in 2019.
There are eight SPAAR committees you can choose from, and each committee typically meets once a month.
Apply here to join!

Interested in checking out one or more SPAAR committees yet in 2018? Contact Joe McKinley of SPAAR at
jmckinley@spaar.com to find a time that works for you.

SPAAR's input helped amend the zoning code for ADUs in Saint Paul

SPAAR is pleased to announce that the City of Saint Paul has amended the zoning code to allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) citywide, based on input from SPAAR and other stakeholders. This policy is effective starting today, Nov. 26, 2018. To qualify, a lot must be 5,000 square feet in area, the unit must comply with all housing regulations, and at least one of the units must be owner-occupied. To see all requirements and general information on ADUs, click here.

This is an exciting opportunity for current and future property owners in the city of Saint Paul, giving each the ability to use his or her property to its fullest potential. This change also provides an innovative opportunity for the city's population to age in-place, and to increase the amount of affordable housing options within the city.

ADUs are not permitted to be sold separately from the original lot, so there should be little change in your technical work as REALTORS®. It is possible, however, that as they start to pop up, you will encounter properties that have ADUs on them, or buyers hoping to build them. For that reason, it is beneficial to stay up to date on the city's ordinances. Check out SPAAR's list of local and regional regulations to see this and other city-specific policies, sorted by city, here.

Each year, SPAAR's Affiliate members are a huge part of the success of the events and activities offered by the association, and each year SPAAR is blown away by the generosity.

The 2019 packet of sponsorship opportunities has recently been completed, and is
attached here for those who have expressed interest about the coming year. If you haven't sponsored a SPAAR event in the past, but have an interest in considering one next year, feel free to take a look and see if anything is a good fit.

On the back page of the packet is a list of events and activities, beyond education, that SPAAR provided or partnered to provide in 2018. If you see something on that page that isn't listed in the packet, please inquire.

Open enrollment is now available for the 2019 individual market, which includes several changes. Minnesota REALTORS® will once again partner with Minnesota Health Insurance to provide this option to members.

Here are some of the changes to note:

Premiums are going down for 2019.

Networks will remain narrow, so check to see that your preferred physicians, clinics and hospitals are in your network if that's important to you.

Tax credits are available based on your family size and income. For example, a family of four will receive $416 per month with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 and $624 at $75,000.

If you don't have health insurance for 2018, consider getting back into the market in 2019.

Eric Anderson and Andy Troje of Minnesota Health Insurance are available to answer questions, run quotes and help you to enroll in health plans. Eric can be reached ateric@minnesota-health.com or (651) 348-7220 (work) or (651) 295-3880 (cell). Andy can be reached atandy@minnesota-health.com or (651) 348-7220 (work) or (612) 710-9038 (cell). There is no cost to work with either Eric and Andy.

The Minnesota REALTORS® Forms Committee modified the Lead Paint Disclosures to simplify the forms and reduce the risk of error in the completion of the disclosure while remaining in compliance with the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (the "Act"). On Aug. 1, 2018, the Minnesota REALTORS® released the 2018 revised forms. As part of that release, the Association revised the Addendum to Purchase Agreement/Addendum to Lease Agreement: Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and Lead-Based Paint Hazards ("Lead Paint Disclosure") and attached the federally-required pamphlet Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home (the "Pamphlet") to the Addenda.

The updated information will be posted in the
Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home pamphlet under the Residential Forms folder on Instanet of Minnesota REALTORS®. Log in to
Minnesota REALTORS® to learn more.

SPAARky says:

Learn some self-defense skills. The best way to be prepared is to know what types of self defense is available, then make a decision to learn at least one kind. Many health clubs, martial arts studios and community education programs offer courses. Ask a friend or colleague to join you. It could be fun and, if ever needed, a good skill to know.

SPAAR members have shared some great tips, too, including:

"When exiting your vehicle on a busy street, open the driver's side door with your right arm. This causes you to turn your body and look back for oncoming cars and bicyclists that may be approaching."

What is your #1 safety tip to share?

In keeping with the safety theme introduced in this newsletter, what is your #1 safety tip?

Share your safety tip and provide your name and email by sending an email to Jennifer at
jkovacich@spaar.com and you will be entered into a $25 drawing at the end of November.

We've had so many GREAT safety tips shared since SPAAR began its weekly focus on safety. Please share one of your tips if you haven't already. It's great to learn from each other. THANK YOU to all who have submitted one or more safety tips. Please keep them coming!

SPAAR in the news

See SPAAR in the news? We'd love to know about it. Please let us know if you see articles in your local paper about SPAAR members, events or other news. You can send an email to
jkovacich@spaar.com or mail to Jennifer Kovacich at SPAAR (325 Roselawn Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55117) or simply let us know the station or publication. Thank you!

Housing Market Statistics

Get up-to-date housing market information here. SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing.